GRAMBLING, La. | The Grambling State University women's basketball team put forth a valiant fourth quarter comeback effort, but dropped its Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) opener to Prairie View A&M, 65-57, on Monday evening at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
 
GSU leading scorer Alexus Holt, scored a game-high 18 points with six rebounds, four assists and one steal. Justice Coleman and Ariel Williams contributed 12 points apiece.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was a tough outing for Grambling State (3-9 overall, 0-1 SWAC), as the Lady Tigers never led during the contest. GSU did erase an early 7-2 deficit, tying the game a 9-9 following a layup by Holt with 3:19 left in the first period.
• The Panthers ended the opening frame on an 8-2 run leading 17-11 heading into the second stanza. PVAMU (4-8, 1-0) shot a sizzling a 77.8 percent from the field (7-of-9) in the period.
• In the second quarter, GSU struggled from the field, hitting on just 3-of-14 attempts, while being outscored 21-9. The Lady Tigers trailed 38-20 at the break.
• Prairie View kept distance between itself and GSU with another hot shooting quarter in the third period. The Panthers nailed 63.6 percent of their shots (7-of-11) while building its largest lead of the contest, 45-22, with 8:07 left in the frame. PVAMU held a 56-38 lead heading into the fourth.
• Grambling State found a spark in the final quarter, opening with a 7-0 run started by a layup from Ashanti Lavergne. Ariel Williams pulled the Lady Tigers within single digits, 60-51, on a driving layup with 3:30 to play.
• Following a Prairie View three-pointer, Coleman responded with a three of her own, keeping GSU within striking distance at 63-54 with 2:23 left.
• However, Grambling State's rally fell short and PVAMU held onto victory.

 
 INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Grambling State shot 23-of-55 from the field (41.8 percent)
• Prairie View A&M went 24-of-43 on field goal attempts (55.8 percent)
• GSU connected on 6-of-17 shots from three-point range (35.3 percent)
• PVAMU drained 4-of-10 from behind the arc (40.0 percent)
• The Lady Tigers hit on 71.4 percent of their free throws (5-of-7)
• The Panthers sank 13-of-20 attempts from the free-throw line (65.0 percent)
• GSU was outrebounded by PVAMU 30-23
• The Lady Tigers scored 14 points off of 16 turnovers
• The Panthers tallied 10 points on 13 turnovers
• Grambling State outscored Prairie View A&M 10-7 in fast-break points
• Both benches scored 16 points apiece
• The Lady Tigers scored nine second-chance points. Prairie View A&M tallied two second-chance points  
• PVAMU held a 34-30 advantage on points in the paint

 
UP NEXT
Grambling State returns to action on Jan 5. with a conference game versus Texas Southern. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.
 
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